SNOHOMISH – Maybe it’s because the town doesn’t have big bookstores.
Maybe it’s because people with Snohomish addresses have been spellbound.
Whatever the secret, Snohomish loves Harry Potter. It ranks eighth nationwide – and third in Washington – in a top-100 list of “Harry-est Towns in America.”
Amazon, Seattle’s online bookseller, created the list in spring to tally by mailing address the number of preorders of “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.” The seventh and final book in the popular series is set to come out at midnight today.
Mayor Randy Hamlin said he learned about the town’s feat a few days ago. It shows that Snohomish people like to read.
“I was pleased to see that. It’s something the community can be proud of,” Hamlin said.
Two of his three sons are now reading the first book of the series, “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone,” published in 1998, Hamlin said. The mayor said he’s read the first two books in the series.
Amazon spokesperson Sean Sundwall would not say how many copies of the book will be sold to people in Snohomish, a town of about 8,700 of people.
Also in the top-100 list are Lake Stevens (65) and Bothell (70), Sundwall said.
Amazon has received about 1.4 million preorders nationwide and 2.2 million worldwide for the book, Sundwall said. The numbers are going up fast.
The Snohomish Public Library is having a party from noon to midnight today to celebrate the book’s release, said Rebecca Loney, the managing librarian.
Snohomish doesn’t have a big bookstore, so it makes sense that many people have ordered the book online, Loney said.
“The other part is that it’s a vital, literate community,” she said.
Uppercase Books and Collectibles on Second Street is the only bookstore in Snohomish, said Linda Brown, co-owner of the used bookstore. She’s expecting about 20 copies of the book to arrive at her store in a few weeks.
“We have customers asking if we are going to have them,” Brown said.
Liz Hicks, an employee of the bookstore, said that she has already ordered a copy online through Borders.
“I’m a big fan of science fiction and fantasy. The storyline has just grabbed and held me,” she said of the series.
Hicks, 23, of Snohomish and her roommate plan to head to Borders in Everett to get the book tonight, Hicks said.
Hicks said she’s excited that the series she’s grown up with is coming to an end.
“I didn’t start reading the series until high school,” she said. “But once I started reading, I read all the books.”
Reporter Yoshiaki Nohara: 425-339-3029 or ynohara@heraldnet.com.
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